Skin Disorders

The skin is the largest organ of the human body. Its primary function is to keep out harmful environmental elements and keep in the bodies organs and fluids. It is waterproof and protective, and can heal itself if it gets damaged.

Did you know… The thinnest skin on your body is on the eyelids where it is less than 1mm thick. The thickest skin on your body can be 5mm thick or more and is found on the soles of your feet.

The average adult has approximately 1.7 square metres of skin. It is not surprising then that there are so many different skin disorders and that research is revealing new information about the causes behind various skin disorders all the time.

The most common skin disorder suffered by man is dermatitis, which covers a huge range of conditions and presents in a variety of forms. The symptoms of dermatitis may include itching, redness, inflammation, dryness, blisters, scales, crustiness, watery discharge, fissures or any other variance from the normal condition of the skin.

Dermatitis conditions include eczema, contact dermatitis, poison ivy, prickly heat, seborrheic dermatitis, photocontact dermatitis and the list goes on.

Luckily the majority of skin disorders can be managed quite easily and good skin care will prevent many ever occurring.

Mel Sinclair, RN